Big Jake

I can’t be the only one noticing a pattern in Lincoln. 2014: Bo Pelini tells his players the AD was “never going to support us.” 2017: Bill Moos later reveals he preferred Chip Kelly over Scott Frost, but says a veteran regent and major donor opposed the idea. 2021: Moos abruptly retires with more than two years remaining on his contract. Trev Alberts takes over and restructures Frost’s contract, reducing his salary and establishing a lower future buyout. 2022: Alberts fires Frost three games into the season, triggering a $15M buyout just weeks before it would’ve dropped to $7.5M. He then hires Matt Rhule on an eight-year, $74M contract. 2024: Just four months after signing an extension through 2031, Alberts abruptly leaves. Regent Tim Clare urges him to stay, offering to address concerns about Nebraska’s structure, operations, and leadership. Alberts had previously championed a $450M stadium renovation, approved in 2023 and later paused. 2025: Troy Dannen, Alberts’ successor, publicly questions the timing of a major stadium investment, citing the university’s financial challenges. Months later, amid Penn State speculation, he extends Rhule through 2032, committing another $25M across 2031 and 2032. 2026: Just eight months after Dannen said “the time is not now,” the Board of Regents approves a revised $600M stadium renovation. Meanwhile, another disappointing football season leaves Nebraska facing a substantial financial obligation if it decides to move on from Rhule. Tim Clare has served on the Board of Regents since 2009, spanning multiple coaches, athletic directors, and university administrations. His communications with Alberts show that concerns about leadership reached the highest levels. We’ve spent years demanding accountability from coaches and athletic directors. Maybe it’s time the people overseeing the decisions, contracts, and hundreds of millions of dollars face that same scrutiny.